The "Washing Line" Technique
Conditions:
This technique works perfectly when the fish seem to be feeding in the top few inches of water only.
It is also helpful when the fish want sub-surface flies, but the retrieve needs to be incredibly slow, if moving at all.
Flat calm, or barely a ripple, seem well suited to this technique too, along with the inclusion of a fine, high quality leader material to combat against takes too shy to strike with a higher breaking strain line.
Set Up:
The Booby is set up as the point fly, or is usually referred to in this technique as an attracter fly. The theory is that the Booby attracts the fish, through instinct, but when it sees the natural fly nearby it takes that with less apprehension. The Booby is used at the point to hold up the small, natural nymph patterns in the few inches of sub surface water needed (see diagram).
From the point fly, the distance between each of your flies needs to be just around 3ft... This helps the fish to spot the natural flies and hopefully induce a more confident take. The short distance between droppers helps because the fish are feeding in such a shallow area of water, there is no vertical visibility of flies, only straight ahead and what is reflected off the glassy surface of the lake back down to the trout's eyes.
Equipment:
A floating line with a sinking tip, or a slow intermediate, are preferred for use with this technique, as it helps to hold you natural fly patt...
